What is the cost of living in San Luis Obispo, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, San Luis Obispo has an overall cost of living index of 175, which is 1.8x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, San Luis Obispo has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in San Luis Obispo ranks as #451 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies San Luis Obispo ranks as the #183 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in San Luis Obispo, check out:
San Luis Obispo Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in San Luis Obispo. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in San Luis Obispo is 109.
The Groceries index in San Luis Obispo is 112.
The Health index in San Luis Obispo is 311.
The Housing index in San Luis Obispo is 119.
The Transportation index in San Luis Obispo is 113.
The Utilities index in San Luis Obispo is 126.
| Living Expense | San Luis Obispo | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 175 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 112 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 311 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 119 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 126 | 121 | 100 |
San Luis Obispo Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in San Luis Obispo Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
San Luis Obispo, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in San Luis Obispo is $1,102,562.
The Median Rent in San Luis Obispo is $1,965.
The Median Income in San Luis Obispo is $73,685.
The Home Value To Income in San Luis Obispo is 15.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in San Luis Obispo is 0.32x.
| Statistic | San Luis Obispo | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,102,562 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,965 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $73,685 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 15.0x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.32x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
San Luis Obispo, CA Costs By Category
Detailed San Luis Obispo Services costs vs. California
| Item | San Luis Obispo | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.48 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $18.12 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $89.33 | $45.56 |
Detailed San Luis Obispo Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | San Luis Obispo | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.77 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.63 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.91 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.9 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $13.49 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.13 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed San Luis Obispo Health costs vs. California
| Item | San Luis Obispo | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $142.2 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $131.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $131.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed San Luis Obispo Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | San Luis Obispo | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.62 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed San Luis Obispo Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | San Luis Obispo | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $231.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $193.81 | $192.25 |
San Luis Obispo SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around San Luis Obispo
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around San Luis Obispo. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Atascadero, CA has a cost of living index of 156, 0.9x San Luis Obispo.
Arroyo Grande, CA has a cost of living index of 168, 1.0x San Luis Obispo.
Nipomo, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 0.9x San Luis Obispo.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. San Luis Obispo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atascadero, CA | 29,712 | 156 | 0.9x |
| Arroyo Grande, CA | 18,372 | 168 | 1.0x |
| Nipomo, CA | 17,516 | 166 | 0.9x |
| Los Osos, CA | 14,166 | 163 | 0.9x |
| Grover Beach, CA | 12,604 | 157 | 0.9x |
| Morro Bay, CA | 10,692 | 169 | 1.0x |
| Pismo Beach, CA | 8,014 | 184 | 1.1x |
| Oceano, CA | 7,128 | 136 | 0.8x |
